Kubeadm AWS vs k3s: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the key differences between Kubeadm AWS and k3s.

1. Installation Process: Kubeadm AWS uses Kubeadm to bootstrap the Kubernetes cluster on AWS, requiring manual configuration of various components such as networking and storage. On the other hand, k3s aims to simplify the installation process by integrating all the required components within a single lightweight binary, resulting in a reduced installation footprint.

2. Resource Requirements: Kubeadm AWS has higher resource requirements due to its use of the full Kubernetes stack, including etcd, kube-apiserver, kube-controller-manager, and kube-scheduler, which can be resource-intensive. In contrast, k3s is designed to be lightweight and optimized for edge computing and low-resource environments, utilizing only a fraction of the resources needed by Kubeadm AWS.

3. Feature Set: Kubeadm AWS provides the complete Kubernetes feature set, including advanced networking and storage options, RBAC, and admission controllers. On the other hand, k3s focuses on simplicity and ease of use, sacrificing some advanced features to achieve its goal of lightweight and efficient operation.

4. High Availability: Kubeadm AWS offers built-in support for setting up high availability clusters through the use of control plane replicas and load balancers. k3s, however, does not provide native support for high availability and requires additional configuration or the use of external tools to achieve the same level of redundancy.

5. Cluster Management: Kubeadm AWS relies on external tools or custom scripts for cluster management tasks such as scaling, upgrading, or adding/removing nodes. On the other hand, k3s includes built-in cluster management capabilities, allowing easy scaling of the cluster, automatic node registration, and simplified node management.

6. Compliance and Certifications: Kubeadm AWS has been developed by the CNCF and is certified as conformant with the Kubernetes specifications. It is widely deployed in production environments and offers strong community support. k3s, being a lightweight alternative, may not have the same level of certification and industry-recognized compliance as Kubeadm AWS.

In summary, Kubeadm AWS provides a full-featured and scalable Kubernetes solution suitable for production environments but with higher resource requirements, while k3s is a lightweight alternative optimized for edge computing and low-resource environments, sacrificing some advanced features for ease of use and reduced resource consumption.